For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings indicated, except when such meanings would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Mayor and Common Council:
BUS
A. 
A motor vehicle that is designed to carry more than 10 passengers and is used to carry people.
B. 
Any other motor vehicle that is designed and used to carry people for compensation, except for a taxicab.
BUSINESS DISTRICT
The territory contiguous to and including a street or highway when 50% or more of the frontage thereon for a distance of 300 feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for business
DRIVE
To drive, operate, move or be in actual physical control of a vehicle, including the exercise of control over or the steering of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.
DRIVER
Any individual who drives a vehicle.
HIGHWAY
The entire width between the boundary lines of any way or thoroughfare of which any part is used by the public for vehicular travel, whether or not the way or thoroughfare has been dedicated to the public within the City and accepted by any proper authority.
MUNICIPAL PARKING LOTS
Includes the following: North Longwell Avenue Municipal Lot, Longwell Avenue Municipal Lot Annex (formerly known as "Key Street Municipal Lot"), south end of the LeRoy L. Conaway Municipal Lot (formerly known as "Railroad Municipal Lot") and the north end of the LeRoy L. Conaway Lot, Chapel Municipal Lot, Albion Municipal Lot. Winter's Municipal Lot, Eugene A. Bauerlien Municipal Lot, Longwell Avenue Municipal Parking Garage and the Westminster Square Municipal Parking Garage.
[Added 3-24-2003 by Ord. No. 698]
OPERATE
As used in reference to a vehicle, to drive, as defined in this section.
OPERATOR
As used in reference to a vehicle, driver, as defined in this section.
OWNER
As used in reference to a vehicle:
A. 
A person who has the property in or title to the vehicle.
B. 
Includes a person who, subject to a security interest in another person, is entitled to the use and possession of the vehicle.
PARK
To halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than temporarily:
A. 
When necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device.
B. 
For the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.
PARKING METER
A device which shall indicate thereon the length of time during which a vehicle may be parked in a particular place, which shall have as a part thereof a receptacle or chamber for receiving and storing coins of the United States or city-approved tokens, a slot or place in which such coins may be deposited, a timing mechanism to indicate the passage of the interval of time during which parking is permissible and which shall also display an appropriate signal when the aforesaid interval of time shall have elapsed and brief instructions as to its operation and the length of time of parking allowed upon the deposit of the required coin or coins. The term "parking meter" shall also include the mechanisms and equipment used by the City to measure time and impose charges for the Longwell Avenue Municipal Parking Garage and the Westminster Square Municipal Parking Garage.
[Amended 3-24-2003 by Ord. No. 698]
PARKING SPACE
A portion of the surface of the street of sufficient length and depth from the sidewalk curb to accommodate a vehicle to be parked, as shall be specified and marked off by authority of the Mayor and Common Council.
POLICE OFFICER
Any member of the City Police Department who has the authority to make arrests and also includes any officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of any of the provisions of the City Code and the Maryland Vehicle Law or of local or any other traffic laws or regulations.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
The territory contiguous to and including a street or highway not comprising a business district when over 50% of the frontage on such highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is improved with individual residences or building uses for residential purposes.
SNOW TIRES
Those tires that are in a good state of repair and that:
A. 
Are normally designated by their manufacturer as "snow tires."
B. 
Are approved by the Administrator as meeting the standards of effectiveness required of normally designated "snow tires."
C. 
Have antiskid patterns cut into the treaded surfaces to form bars, buttons or blocks specially designed to give effective traction on snow- or ice-covered highways.
STAND
To halt a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, other than temporarily:
A. 
When necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device.
B. 
For the purposes of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
STOP
A. 
Where used in a mandatory sense, the complete cessation from movement.
B. 
Where used in a prohibitory sense, to halt even momentarily a vehicle, whether or not it is occupied, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic control device.
STREET
Includes any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and the approaches thereto within the City used by the public, whether actually dedicated to the public and accepted by the proper public authority or otherwise. It also means the entire width thereof between abutting property lines and includes roads and driveways of the state.
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE
Any sign, signal, marking or device not inconsistent with the Maryland Transportation Article, placed or erected by authority of the Mayor and Common Council or other public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL
Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternatively directed to stop and permitted to proceed.
VEHICLE
Every self-propelled device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails or tracks.
A. 
The Mayor and Common Council has the authority to provide for the placement and maintenance upon streets under its jurisdiction of such traffic control devices as it may deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and to control, regulate, warn or guide traffic. All such traffic control devices shall conform to the state's "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways" with regard to design, color, size and placement.
B. 
Unless the contrary is established by competent evidence, if a traffic control device is placed in a position approximately meeting the requirements of this article and the requisites of the state, the device is presumed to have been placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority.
C. 
Unless the contrary is established by competent evidence, if a traffic control device is placed in accordance with this article and the requisites of the state and purports to meet the lawful requirements governing these devices, the device is presumed to meet all of the requirements of law.
D. 
No driver of a vehicle shall disobey the instructions of any traffic control device placed in accordance with this section, unless at the time otherwise directed by a police officer or other person having authority to direct traffic.
E. 
Any violation of Subsection D hereof is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $35 for each offense.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) 
Fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any instruction, direction or warning of any police officer of the City controlling or directing the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic on the streets, roads, alleys or parking lots within the City.
(2) 
Fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any warning, direction, speed limitation or prohibition of any sign, standard or other device erected or maintained for the purpose of controlling or directing vehicular traffic on the streets, roads, alleys or parking lots within the City.
(3) 
Fail, neglect or refuse to obey the signal of any traffic control signal, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated.
(4) 
Fail, neglect or refuse to keep a vehicle within a proper traffic lane as designated by lines, marks or arrows painted upon any street, road, alley or parking lot within the City.
(5) 
Park, stand or stop any vehicle within an area or zone that is reserved for handicapped parking in accordance with the criteria provided in the Transportation Article. For purposes of this section, a vehicle may park, stand or stop in a handicapped parking zone only if the vehicle displays the special registration plates for disabled persons issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration or registration plates issued under a similar provision of any other state or the District of Columbia or unless the vehicle displays a valid permit issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration or any other state or the District of Columbia.
(6) 
Remove, deface or cover any sign, standard or other device or any painted line, arrow or mark relating to vehicular speed or control or to the parking of vehicles.
B. 
Any violation of Subsection A hereof is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation of Subsection A(1), (2), (3), (4) and (6) shall be a fine of $35 for each offense. The penalty for violation of Subsection A(5) shall be a fine of $100 for each offense.
[Amended 11-24-2008 by Ord. No. 791]
A. 
Legislative findings. The Mayor and Common Council finds that, with consistency, a threat to the public health, safety and welfare arises from the congestion and traffic hazards created by repetitive, unnecessary driving of motor vehicles within the City of Westminster. The purpose of this section is to reduce the dangerous traffic congestion as well as the excessive noise, littering and pollution resulting from such unnecessary repetitive driving, to provide for the safety of drivers and pedestrians and to ensure sufficient access for emergency vehicles to and through the City now hampered by this repetitive driving of motor vehicles.
B. 
Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
AREA DESIGNATED
An area of property within the City designated by the Mayor and Common Council by resolution as an area where cruising is prohibited. Any owner, lessee or management agent of any area may request that the Mayor and Common Council designate its property as an area where cruising is prohibited.
CRUISING
(1) 
Driving a motor vehicle on a street or posted private property past a traffic control point, as determined by the City Police Department, more than twice in any two-hour period between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. in an area designated by the Mayor and Common Council. The passing of a designated control point a third time under the aforesaid conditions shall constitute cruising except as provided in Subsection B(2) hereof.
(2) 
Does not apply to any municipal, emergency, police, fire, ambulance or other governmental vehicle when the same is being operated in its official capacity. It also does not apply to any duly licensed public transportation vehicle nor to any vehicles utilized for business or commercial purposes.
TRAFFIC CONTROL POINT
A clearly identified reference point in an area designated, as determined and marked from time to time, by the City Police Department.
C. 
Posting. Every area designated as an area where cruising is prohibited shall be posted with a sign to provide notice of the prohibition which shall state "No Cruising." All areas designated by the Mayor and Common Council shall be so posted at the property owner's expense.
D. 
Cruising prohibited. No person shall cruise. For the purposes of this section, the person operating the vehicle and the person having care, custody or control of a motor vehicle shall be considered the person cruising. For the purposes of this section, the person having "care, custody or control of a motor vehicle" shall mean either the owner of said vehicle, if present in the vehicle at the time of violation or, if the owner is not so present, the person or persons having the owner's authority to use the vehicle.
E. 
Penalty as infraction. Any violation of this section is declared to be an infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $25 for each offense.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive upon, pass over or use any vehicle on any new street or newly repaired street before it is opened to traffic.
B. 
A person may not willfully improve or damage any street, including a street under construction, or any work, material or structure used in connection with the construction of a street.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to drive upon, pass over or use any vehicle on any street or portion of street which is undergoing repair or which for any other reason has been closed to traffic by authority of the Mayor and Common Council or its agents whenever signs have been erected or barricades installed so as to show that such street or portion thereof has been closed to traffic.
D. 
Any violation of any subsection hereof is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $25 for each offense.
A. 
Alteration. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully alter any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
B. 
Defacing. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully deface any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
C. 
Injuring. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully injure any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
D. 
Knocking down. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully knock down any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
E. 
Changing directions. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully change the direction of any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
F. 
Twisting. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully twist, any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
G. 
Removing any part of it It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully remove any traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal, including any inscription, shield or insignia on it.
H. 
Lines or markings. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully deface, remove, screen from view, tamper or otherwise interfere with any lines or markings painted by authority of the Mayor and Common Council on any pavement, curb or roadway for the direction of traffic or the parking of vehicles.
I. 
Any violation of any subsection hereof is declared to be municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $50 for each offense.
A. 
General prohibition. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, maintain or display on or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device that purports to be, is an imitation of or resembles a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal or paint on the curb, pavement or roadway any marks or lines similar to those adopted by authority of the Mayor and Common Council to direct, control or restrict traffic or the parking of vehicles.
B. 
Signs, etc., directing movement of traffic. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, maintain or display on or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device that attempts to direct the movement of traffic.
C. 
Signs, etc., interfering with effectiveness of traffic control devices or railroad signs. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, maintain or display on or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device that hides or interferes with the effectiveness of a traffic control device or a railroad sign or signal.
D. 
Placing signs, etc., except as otherwise permitted by law. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, maintain or display on or in view of any street any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device that, except as otherwise permitted by law, contains:
(1) 
Any of the following words: "stop," "curve," "warning," "slow," "danger," "listen," "look" or "school."
(2) 
Any other word used in directing the movement of traffic.
E. 
Commercial advertising prohibited. A person may not place or maintain on any street nor may any public authority permit on any street any traffic sign or signal that has any commercial advertising on it.
F. 
Prohibited signs, etc., a public nuisance. Each sign, signal, marking or device prohibited by this section is a public nuisance, and the City may remove it without notice.
G. 
Any violation of any subsection hereof is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $50 for each offense.
[Amended 5-8-1995 by Ord. No. 598]
This chapter shall have no application to the operation and parking of a vehicle or bicycle by a police officer when on duty or conducting official police business.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle or skateboard upon any sidewalk in any business district, and it shall be unlawful for any person above the age of 14 years to ride a bicycle or tricycle upon any sidewalk in any residential district, and it shall be unlawful for any person to ride a skateboard on any street or public right-of-way unless otherwise specifically designated.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a skateboard at any time within the Westminster Municipal Playground or parks, unless otherwise specifically designated.
C. 
Any violation of any subsection hereof is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $25 for each offense.
A. 
Whenever any vehicle is parked or stopped at a location where parking or stopping is prohibited or is otherwise parked so as to constitute a hazard to public safety or is so parked, stopped or standing so as to impede or obstruct the normal movement of traffic or pedestrians, the officer who discovers the vehicle illegally parked shall deliver a citation to the operator or, if the vehicle is unattended, attach a citation to the vehicle in a conspicuous place. In the absence of the operator, the registered owner of the vehicle shall be presumed to be the person parking or stopping the vehicle. In addition, if the vehicle is unattended, the Police Department may proceed immediately to have the vehicle removed, towed and impounded. The cost of the removal, towing and storage of any vehicle, together with any unpaid fines and administrative expenses, shall be paid prior to the release of the vehicle, and such vehicle shall only be released to the registered owner thereof or a person specifically designated by the owner.
B. 
In cases of parking violations not covered by Subsection A hereof, the officer who discovers the vehicle illegally parked shall deliver a citation to the operator or, if the vehicle is unattended, attach a citation to the vehicle in a conspicuous place. In the absence of the operator, the registered owner of the vehicle shall be presumed to be the person parking the vehicle. If the parking violation exists continuously for a period of three hours or more, the Police Department may proceed to have the vehicle removed, towed and impounded. The cost of the removal, towing and storage of any vehicle, together with any unpaid fines and administrative expenses, shall be paid prior to the release of the vehicle, and such vehicle shall only be released to the registered owner thereof or a person specifically designated by the owner.
C. 
The costs of the removal, towing, impoundment and storage of vehicles may include the amounts charged by any independent contractor engaged by the City for such services as well as the daily storage charges as established by resolution of the Mayor and Common Council.
D. 
The City of Westminster or any agent, employee or independent contractor thereof, including but not limited to the Westminster City Police Department and any officer or agent thereof, shall not in any way be liable to the owner or any other person or entity having a right to possession of any vehicle or any other person or entity having or claiming any interest whatsoever in a vehicle which is removed, towed, impounded and stored under the provisions of any section under this article.
E. 
The procedures set forth in § 155-13 shall also be utilized for any impoundment under this section.
A. 
When any unattended motor vehicle is found parked at any time upon any street of the City of Westminster against which there are two or more unsatisfied citations for parking violations and when a period of 30 days or more has elapsed since the second unsatisfied citation, the Westminster City Police Department is authorized to cause such vehicle, either by towing or otherwise, to be removed or conveyed to and impounded in any place designated by the Chief of Police or immobilized in such a manner as to prevent its operation, except that no such vehicle shall be immobilized by members of the Police Department by any means other than by the use of a device or other mechanism which will cause no damage to such vehicle unless said vehicle is moved while such device or mechanism is in place.
[Amended 7-14-1997 by Ord. No. 620]
B. 
In any case involving immobilization pursuant to this section, such police officer shall cause to be placed on such vehicle in a conspicuous manner notice sufficient to warn any individual to the effect that such vehicle has been immobilized and that any attempt to move such vehicle might result in damage to such vehicle. Said notice shall further advise the owner or operator that the vehicle has been immobilized by the City for failure to satisfy citations for parking violations; that the owner has the right to contest the immobilization by submitting a written request to the City Police Department within 10 days from the date of the immobilization or said right shall be deemed to have been waived; and that release of the vehicle may be obtained upon payment of the booting fee and other amount specified in this section.
C. 
The owner of an immobilized vehicle shall be permitted to secure release of the vehicle upon payment of a booting fee of $100 and all charges which have accrued thereon by virtue of its immobilization, together with any unpaid fines and administrative expenses.
[Amended 11-24-2008 by Ord. No. 791]
D. 
The owner of an impounded vehicle shall be permitted to secure release of the vehicle upon payment of the costs of the removal, towing, impoundment and storage of said vehicle, together with any unpaid fines and administrative expenses, prior to the release of the vehicle.
E. 
The procedures set forth in § 155-13 shall also be utilized for any impoundment or immobilization under this section.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with or remove or attempt to remove the immobilization device without authorization from the Westminster Police Department.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person other than the owner or operator or a person authorized by either of them to remove the warning notice regarding immobilization.
C. 
Any violation of any subsection hereof is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be a fine of $100 for each offense.
A. 
Unless the owner of a vehicle impounded or immobilized under the provisions of § 155-10 appears to secure a release of the vehicle within 24 hours after the vehicle has been immobilized, said owner shall be given written notice by certified mail within 48 hours after the vehicle has been impounded or immobilized by the Westminster City Police Department that said owner has the right to contest the validity of the impoundment or immobilization at a hearing which will be held within 72 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from the submission of a written request for a hearing.
B. 
The notice shall further advise that said owner's right to a hearing shall be deemed to have been waived if said owner fails to make a written request for a hearing within 10 days from the receipt of the certified mail notice sent to said owner or if said owner executes a written waiver when releasing the impounded or immobilized vehicle.
C. 
Requests for a hearing contesting the validity of an impoundment or immobilization shall be referred to a hearing officer appointed by the Mayor and Common Council. Said hearing officer shall conduct the hearing pursuant to the procedures established by regulation of the Westminster City Police Department. The hearing officer shall consider such facts and circumstances as the officer deems necessary in making a determination as to the validity of the impoundment or immobilization. The determination of the hearing officer shall be final. It shall have no bearing on the fine, penalty or charges which might be imposed by the District Court of Maryland for municipal infractions.
D. 
If the hearing officer determines that a vehicle should not have been impounded, the owner shall not be required to pay the impoundment costs imposed therefor, or if they have been paid, a refund shall be made to the owner who made said payment. The hearing officer shall have no authority to modify any fines or administrative charges.
E. 
If the hearing officer determines that a vehicle should not have been immobilized, the owner shall not be required to pay the booting fee and all charges which have accrued by virtue of the vehicle immobilization, or if said fees have been paid, a refund shall be made to the owner who made said payment. The hearing officer shall have no authority to modify any fines or administrative charges.
F. 
If, following trial in the District Court of Maryland or other tribunal, a decision is entered in favor of the owner upon all of the parking violations charged against the vehicle immobilized or impounded, notwithstanding the ruling of the hearing officer with respect to the immobilization or impoundment of the vehicle, all charges advanced as having accrued upon the vehicle by virtue of its immobilization or impoundment shall be returned to the person who advanced such sums upon presentation of the official receipt issued at the time said vehicle was released.
In dealing with abandoned vehicles, the Westminster City Police Department is authorized to utilize the procedures set forth in Subtitle 2 of Title 25 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland as it is presently codified or as it may be subsequently amended. Further, any vehicle impounded under §§ 155-10 and 155-11 shall be deemed to be an abandoned vehicle if it is not reclaimed by its owner within 48 hours after impoundment.